Then he must take off his garments, put on other clothes, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a ceremonially clean place. Sermons
I. THE LAW OF THE BURNT OFFERING AS TO THE SACRIFICE. And we observe: 1. That the offering was ever upon the altar. (1) The evening sacrifice was "burning upon the altar all night unto the morning." For the particular reference here is to the tally sacrifice of a lamb for the whole congregation. (2) This was then followed by the corresponding morning sacrifice. This, together with the occasional sacrifices which were offered throughout the day, would keep the altar fully occupied until the evening. (3) Thus there was kept up a constant "remembrance of sins" day by day, the year round, and "year by year continually." For the repetition of the sacrifices showed that "they could never take away sins." These could only be removed "through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once" (see Hebrews 10:1-10). 2. That the fire was kept ever burning. (1) This was not common fire, but came forth from God (see Leviticus 9:23, 24). It was an emblem of the Holy Spirit; and sometimes represented his wrath, sometimes his love (Isaiah 4:4; Malachi 3:2, 3; Matthew 3:11; Acts 2:3, 4; Hebrews 10:26, 27; Hebrews 12:29). (2) God commanded that it should "not be put out." He will consume with the fire of his wrath those who quench the fire of his love. Even if we be not always offering sacrifices, love must be kept always burning in the heart (1 Thessalonians 5:19; 2 Timothy 1:6). (3) The priests were instructed how they should keep it alive. They were to put on wood. On this to lay the burnt offering. So the Great Sacrifice was laid on the wood of the cross, when the fires of God's wrath entered into his very soul. The fat of the peace offerings was placed on the burnt offering. So the fire was maintained (see Isaiah 31:9). The fire was kept ever burning, to show that God's wrath could never be quenched until the blood of Christ should quench it. II. THE LAW OF THE BURNT OFFERING AS TO THE PRIEST. 1. "Aaron and his sons" together are addressed. Verse 9. (1) The high priest of the Law was undoubtedly a type of the "Great High Priest of our profession." When Aaron, the high priest, is here mentioned with his sons, the priests, the suggestion is that in his absence they acted as his representatives in connection with the burnt offering. So here they also may be viewed as types of Christ. (2) The sons of Aaron, in their character of ordinary priests, represent Christians. In what they did, therefore, there may have been a two- fold typical meaning. 2. They attended the altar in their holy garments. (1) These were composed of white linen. "His linen garment, and his linen breeches" (Exodus 28:40-43). They symbolized purity and righteousness (Psalm 132:9; Revelation 3:4; Revelation 7:13, 14; Revelation 19:8). (2) As types of Christ in offering up his own sacrifice of himself to God, they would shadow forth his righteousness. As typifying Christians, they would foreshow how we must be clothed with the "robe of righteousness and garment of salvation" through Christ's merits, before our spiritual sacrifices can be accepted. (3) Even when the priest took up the ashes from the consuming burnt offering to put them beside the altar, he wore his holy garments. This was proper, for the fire was still consuming the sacrifice. But, 3. He changed his garments to carry the ashes outside. (1) He had to carry them forth without the camp. Was not Calvary this place of ashes (comp. chapter Leviticus 4:12; Hebrews 13:11, 12)? (2) But they were to be laid in a "clean place." The tomb of Joseph was such a place. It had not been polluted by the touch of a dead body (see John 19:41, 42). Nor did the ashes of the world's Great Burnt Offering pollute it. They were holy. Because he was the "Holy One" of God, his body "could not see corruption" (Acts 2:31). (3) The holy raiment was laid aside when this service was performed, to show that now, as far as the work of sacrifice was concerned, that was "finished" when Jesus expired upon the cross. Let us rejoice in an "eternal redemption," in an "everlasting salvation." - J.A.M.
The priest shall put on his linen garment. I. IN HOLY ATTIRE THEY SERVE AT THE ALTAR.1. Suggestive of the essential holiness of Christ. 2. Symbolic of their derived purity and righteousness. 3. Indicative of the spirit of service. II. IN ALTERED GARMENTS THEY BEAR THE ASHES FROM THE SANCTUARY. 1. The changed tone of feeling in the ministrant. 2. The altered scenes which a Christian frequents. (W. H. Jellie.) (A. A. Bonar.) Take up the ashes. By the figure which grammarians call ellipsis, or breviloquence, "ashes" is used for the material out of which ashes came, as Isaiah 47:2, speaks of grinding "meal" (Ainsworth). The wood was underneath the burnt-offering. This being done, the ashes were to be placed by themselves, for a little time, "beside the altar." All eyes would thus see them and take notice of them, before they were carried out into a clean place. Probably there were two reasons for this action.1. The fire was thus kept clear and bright, the ashes being removed. God thereby taught them that He was not careless as to this matter, but required that the type of His justice should be kept full and unobscured. 2. The ashes were shown for the purpose of making it manifest that the flame had not spared the victim, but had turned it into ashes. It was not a mere threatening when the angels foretold that Sodom and Gomorrah were to be destroyed for their sin; their doom (2 Peter 2:6) is declared to have come on them, "turning them to ashes." So here, all that was threatened is fulfilled. There the ashes lie; any eye may see them. The vengeance has been accomplished! The sacrifice is turned into ashes! Justice has found its object! The Lord's arrows are not pointless; He performs all His threatenings, for He is holy. "O Lord God of hosts, who is a strong Lord like unto Thee? or to Thy faithfulness round about Thee?" (A. A. Bonar.) Burn wood on By no Levitical rite or service was Christ, as "the Lamb of God," more perfectly typified, than by the daily sacrifice. It significantly prefigured Him in His death, the satisfaction He yielded to the Father, and His intercession in behalf of men. It is Christ, then, that we have here; and —I. IN THE PERFECTNESS OF HIS CHARACTER. The lamb was without spot; and He was without blemish. And this is what He needed to be. And yet He was more. He was marked not only for the absence of all defect, but for the presence of every excellence. He was absolutely and universally perfect. This was the case with the affections He cherished, the dispositions He cultivated, and the virtues He practised. Only what is perfect can satisfy an infinitely perfect God. All, therefore, that is defective and unholy is forbidden a place on His altar. God's requirement extends to what is internal as well as to what is external. He demands "truth in the inward parts" as well as integrity in the outward life. The demand was fully met by Jesus. But what God required in the offering, He required also in those for whom it was presented. Only as we are personally what God requires, in righteousness of walk before Him, can we occupy the position to which we are invited, appreciate and enjoy the blessings of salvation, and fulfil the purposes of our high calling. But we may be that; provision for our being so has been made. Strengthened, therefore, with might by the Spirit in the inner man, there is no duty that we may not fulfil, and no appropriation of offered blessing that we may not make. Bus God not only strengthens for service; He Himself works in us, and for us, and by us — leading us to will and to do according to His good pleasure. II. We have Christ here in HIS COMPLETENESS OF DEDICATION TO THE FATHER AND TO MEN. The lambs were, with the exception of the skin, wholly consumed by the fire; and Christ gave Himself to God for us. The primary object of His incarnation and mission to earth was — to glorify the Father. The path might be rugged, but leading to the glory of the Father, He cheerfully trod it; the Cross might be ignominious, but ensuring the glory of the Father, He gave Himself up to it. He made of Himself a whole burnt-offering to God. But it was a twofold gift He made of Himself when He laid Himself upon the altar. "He gave Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour (Ephesians 5:2). He loved me, and gave Himself for me." One of the purposes for which He became our substitute, delivered us from the dominion of evil, and endued us with Divine strength, was, that we might walk in His steps, and, in our measure, yield ourselves to God as He did. But is this being done? It is on record that, during the late civil war in America, and when victory was swaying from side to side, that commissioners from the Confederate States sought and obtained an interview with President Lincoln, with the view of trying to effect an arrangement for the independence of the territory they represented. They knew the tender-heartedness of Mr. Lincoln, and appealed to him to stay the effusion of blood which, at the moment, was flowing in torrents. They were willing to for go several of the States for which they had hitherto fought, if he would consent to the remainder being independent. They pleaded with him for hours, and made use of the strongest arguments and considerations they could adduce to gain their object. When they had finished, the president, who had patiently listened to all that had been said, raised his hand, and then bringing it down with emphasis on the map which lay before him, replied, "Gentlemen, this Government must have the whole." And so God says, regarding the inner kingdom of every human heart. He will allow no partition or division there. The whole is His by right, and He will suffer no one to share with Him the throne He has erected for His own occupancy. III. By the daily burnt-offering we are minded of CHRIST'S ACCEPTABLENESS TO THE FATHER. The lamb was an offering of a sweet savour unto God, in which He had delight, and from which He derived satisfaction. And He was ever pleased with Christ. But is this remembered as it should be? Christ is much more thought of as providing for men's necessities than for God's requirements; as appeasing justice than as giving delight to Him from whom He came; as ministering peace to the troubled than as satisfying the Father's heart. But what Christ was to God, believers are intended to be, in their measure, also. Is this now, to any extent, the case? Has God satisfaction in all who call themselves by the name of His Son? Has He joy in that which you lay upon His altar, in the services that you fulfil, and in the measure of resemblance which you bear to His Beloved? Then Christ is brought before us here in the position He ever occupies on our behalf. A lamb was always before God, and Christ ever liveth to make intercession for us. Now, where Christ is in reference to the Father He ought to be in reference to all who bear His name. Only as this is the case, as He is ever before you, occupying the vision of your faith, filling the sphere of your life, and engaging your feelings and thoughts, will you become assimilated to His likeness and meet for His presence and glory above. (James Fleming, D. D.) People Aaron, Ephah, MosesPlaces TemanTopics Ashes, Camp, Carry, Ceremonially, Clean, Clothing, Forth, Garments, Linen, Outside, Robes, Stripped, Tent-circleOutline 1. The trespass offering for sins done wittingly8. The law of the burnt offering 14. and of the meat offering 19. The offering at the consecration of a priest 24. The law of the sin offering Dictionary of Bible Themes Leviticus 6:11Library Meditations against Despair, or Doubting of God's Mercy. It is found by continual experience, that near the time of death, when the children of God are weakest, then Satan makes the greatest nourish of his strength, and assails them with his strongest temptations. For he knows that either he must now or never prevail; for if their souls once go to heaven, he shall never vex nor trouble them any more. And therefore he will now bestir himself as much as he can, and labour to set before their eyes all the gross sins which ever they committed, and the judgments … Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety The Cleansing of the Temple - the Sign,' which is not a Sign. Influences that Gave Rise to the Priestly Laws and Histories Solomon's Temple Spiritualized Destruction of Jerusalem Foretold. Obedience Peaceable Principles and True: Or, a Brief Answer to Mr. D'Anver's and Mr. Paul's Books against My Confession of Faith, and Differences in Judgment About Baptism no Bar to Communion. Leviticus Links Leviticus 6:11 NIVLeviticus 6:11 NLT Leviticus 6:11 ESV Leviticus 6:11 NASB Leviticus 6:11 KJV Leviticus 6:11 Bible Apps Leviticus 6:11 Parallel Leviticus 6:11 Biblia Paralela Leviticus 6:11 Chinese Bible Leviticus 6:11 French Bible Leviticus 6:11 German Bible Leviticus 6:11 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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